Mutual Conspiracy
ACZC Happenings, 4/13 - 4/19
“There's no reason sound can't be appreciated wherever you are. It's always there. We think something has to be dramatic or highly structured, but there's always structures to find in our minds. We have that freedom in our own being to be able to see with what's there, with what's here, with what's happening.”
- Robert Holliday
Hello Sangha!
Can you hear that sound?
It’s the sound of bells ringing and clackers clacking and keys turning in locks. It’s the sound of quiet bows and brooms sweeping and kettles boiling. It’s the sound of keyboards clicking and folks chanting and the scraping of the heavy metal gate against the driveway as it swings open and closed.
It’s the sound of a sangha coming together to run a humble little Zen center in the middle of the wild and unruly metropolis of Los Angeles on behalf of its caretaker, who’s on a 90 day ango in Japan. The sound of a group of people united in their love of an ancient practice that somehow gives us life in these modern times. And it’s a beautiful sound indeed.
It’s only been a week since Dave left, and while we miss him terribly, it’s pretty great to see the whole song just keep playing on. Let’s keep it up, yeah?
And speaking of sounds! This week on the podcast, Robert explores the intersection of experimental music and zazen from Buddha to John Cage in a fascinating real time experiment in music, mind, and sound. What’s the difference between music and being, composition and compassion? Where is the mind? What is the mind? What masterpieces have been waiting right here and now for us to find? Find out here!
Up now at http://aczc.org/aczcpodcast or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
How about a koan for the week?
Case in point:
Sometimes we fail to praise a person for his or her true virtue. In this case, Kodo Sawaki Roshi’s karmic attributes have nothing to do with his way of life as a person who “wasted his entire life on zazen.”
This Week in Zen! All times posted in Pacific time zone, all sessions hosted in person and on Zoom unless otherwise marked (email us for quick and easy Zoom access info):
Saturday - 4/13, 10am - 12:30pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Sara Campbell - Our biggest day of the week! Two half hour rounds of zazen, one walking meditation in the middle, and then Sara takes the hot seat for talk and kava java. Join us!
Monday - 4/15, 7:30pm - 9pm
Sit & Discussion w/ Heather Ross - One half hour of zazen and then Heather hosts us for a talk about how much we love our personal dramas. Sounds like tea will be served both literally and figuratively, so don’t miss it!
Wednesday - 4/17, 7:30pm - 9pm (Zoom Only)
Sit & Koan Discussion w/ Heather Ross - Well it looks like Heather’s working Zen overtime this week, but the good news there is that you can’t have too much Heather! She’ll lead us in a discussion of Chapter 5 of The Zen Teaching of Homeless Kodo. Join us.
Friday - 4/19 at 8am
Morning Chanting Service - This week we’re chanting the Harmony of Difference and Equality and paying tribute to the women ancestors in our lineage from Buddha on down to now. Come and lend us your voice.
Tuesday - Friday, 7am - 8am
Morning Sit - One simple hour of what we do best - just sitting. Optional five minute stretch break offered in the middle.
See y’all soon!
Love,
ACZC